Islands could help Illinois River

A major federal bill U.S. Rep. Ray LaHood called "veto-proof" clears the way for construction of three large islands in Lower Peoria Lake along East Peoria’s shoreline.

In the short term, they’ll fight sediment choking the Illinois River by speeding its current through the lower lake, and by dredging 1½ million cubic yards of mud to build the islands and create deep-water basins around them.

In the long run, the islands — first conceived 20 years ago — "will be the keystone of a series of projects to build a diversionary channel" along the river’s east banks from the McClugage Bridge to Farm Creek, state-based scientist Bill White said Friday.

"The stars have all kind of lined up" in favor of a series of long-range plans for the channel, which also would speed sediment downriver while enhancing ecology and river recreation, said White, manager of the Illinois State Water Survey’s Peoria office.

Much more of the river will benefit from the latest Water Resources Development Act, a multi-billion dollar improvements package typically updated every two years but which has laid dormant since 2000.

The act’s 2007 version was delivered to President Bush for his signature last Wednesday after its final version was strongly approved by Congress.

Even though Bush has threatened to veto it, "This bill will become law very soon," LaHood, R-Peoria, said Monday. "It’s veto-proof in both the House (of Representatives) and the Senate."

For now, though, that only means the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will have the authority to appropriate $16 million to construct the three islands, out of the nearly $24 billion in spending nationwide the act would approve.

Actually getting the island money into the Corps’ budget will be, in no small part, LaHood’s job, and that of his successor once he leaves office, he said.

"I’ll do my part" in that effort, he said, "and so will whoever follows me" as the result of his decision not to seek re-election.

"Conceivably, we could start the contracting process" to award the huge project to bidders "next fall and begin work in spring 2009," said Marshall Plumley, the project’s manager at the Corps’ Rock Island office.

The first island of 20 acres — and comprised of mud now proven to become rich topsoil once it dries — would be built in the extremely shallow cove just north of the McClugage’s eastern end, Plumley said. Congress actually approved its construction two years ago, but has yet to fund the work, he said.

The second and third islands, "shaped like cigars," Plumley said, would sit parallel to one another, with a narrow channel between them, generally between Spindler and EastPort marinas. Each would occupy about 22 acres.

"There’ll be some boating opportunities that aren’t there now" as the result of the half-mile of "deep water" surrounding the islands that boaters from the marinas would use to sail around them and into the river’s main channel, he said.

"This is all part of a larger plan" to attack the river’s sediment-related problems, "but this is what we can do," Plumley said. "The planning (for the islands) is taken care of."

The act, known as WRDA-2007, "is like a (federal) transportation bill" in its immensity, said LaHood, who strongly supports it. "It will affect so many people. The amount of jobs and money (involved) is incredible."

Its final version was passed by an 81-12 Senate vote and by 381-40 in the House.

Michael Smothers can be reached at (309) 686-3287 or msmothers@pjstar.com.